Pinochle proposition

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for playing a card game using a deck of cards with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, in accordance with an example. The method may include distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer. A main wager may be received from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player and a side wager may be received from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player. When the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match a defined combination of cards, the player may be rewarded for the side wager.

BACKGROUND The Blackjack Game:

Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one (“21”) is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between a Player and Dealer (House) and played with one or more deck(s) of 52 cards. The Player is dealt an initial two card hand with the option of drawing cards to bring the total value to 21 or less without exceeding it, so that the Dealer will lose by having a lesser hand than the Player or by exceeding 21 (aka Busting).

Basic Rules of Blackjack

The Player's object is to win money by creating card totals which will turn out to be higher than the Dealer's hand, but without exceeding 21.

Before the cards are dealt the Players place their bets in a designated area in front of their respective place on the table.

The Dealer faces up to 7 Players and deals the cards in a clockwise rotation starting from their left most position going around twice until each Player has two cards (the Dealer included). The Players cards are either face up or face down depending on House rules.

The Dealer will have one card face up and one card face down (hole card). The value of the cards are:

Ace=1 or 11 (according to how the Player uses the card in their best interest),

King, Queen, Jack=10,

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 are valued at their natural value

On their turn, Player's must choose whether to “hit” (take a card) or “stand” (end their turn) or “double down” (double wager/typically on a total on 10 or 11 on the first two cards/and take a single card and end turn) or “split” (if the two cards have the same value, separate them to make two hands) or “surrender” (if offered-give up half your bet and retire from that round) based on the value of their first two cards.

If the Dealer's face up card is an Ace, then Players have the option to take “Insurance” before the Dealer checks his/her face down (hole card). This bet is handled independently of the main bet. This bet gives the Player an opportunity to protect their main bet. If the Dealer's face down card (hole card) is a King, Queen, Jack or 10 the Dealer has Blackjack and the main bet is lost. The Insurance bet typically pays 2:1.

If at any time the Player hits (takes a card) and the value of the cards exceeds 21 they must forfeit their cards to the Dealer at which time the Player's main bet is removed and the Dealer moves onto the next Player.

The Dealer will resolve each Player's hands first before resolving theirs. The Dealer never doubles down, splits or surrenders.

Typically Dealer's draw on 16 or less, hit on all soft 17's and stands on all hard 17's (again depending on House rules). If the Dealer does not bust, each remaining Player hand that is higher than the Dealer's, wins and the Player's hands that are lower lose. If the Dealer and Player hand total match then it is a “Push” and the main bet is not won or lost.

If a Player's first two cards are a Blackjack (i.e Ace with a King, Queen, Jack or 10) the the Player wins their bet typically at 3:2 (depending on House rules) except if the Dealer also has a Blackjack then the hand is a “Push”.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example layout table for Pinochle Proposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Pinochle Proposition

Pinochle Proposition is a simple, yet fun variation of the basic Blackjack game (for both video terminal and table game) . . . with one proposition/side bet offered. The side bet involves the Player's first two cards only.

In the popular trick taking, combination forming and point scoring card game known as Pinochle, Player's are dealt cards and proceed to make melds (card combo's) for points.

We will be taking some of the popular melds/card combinations from Pinochle and use them for the Player's side bet in Pinochle Proposition. If a Player is dealt one of the card combinations listed below (first two cards only) then they would win the Pinochle Proposition side bet immediately.

Pinochle=Jack of Diamonds & Queen of Spades Trump Marriage=King & Queen/Suited/*Trump Royal Marriage=King & Queen/Suited/Non Trump Common Marriage=King & Queen/Non Suited

Dix in Trump=“9” Card in *Trump [either of the Player's first two cards qualifies] *Trump is determined by Dealer's face up card suit—that suit is “Trump”.

[Suits are Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs, Spades] IV. Rules for Pinochle Proposition

The basic rules of Blackjack still apply with these additional ten rules for the Pinochle Proposition bets:

1. The Pinochle Proposition bet has to be made at the same time the Player's main bet is made. The Player will place the main bet and the Pinochle Proposition bet. 2. A Player cannot place a bet on the Pinochle Proposition without making a main bet. 3. Once the cards are dealt the Pinochle Proposition bet cannot be taken back or added to, if made. 4. Each Pinochle Proposition bet that is made plays one time only—on the specific hand that it is being played. 5. If the Dealer is dealt a Blackjack then the Player's main bet is lost but if the Pinochle Proposition bet is made and is a winner the Player will be paid. 6. There is a specified betting area (that must be used) on the Blackjack table for the Pinochle Proposition bets. 7. If the House rules are that both Player's cards are dealt face down it is the responsibility of the Player to immediately show the winning Pinochle Proposition hand to be paid. 8. In the case of the Dix in Trump (one of the Player's first two cards is a “9” in Trump) the Player must show that card/hand immediately to be paid however can still play the remainder of their hand, i.e. request additional cards (hit) to improve their hand. 9. To determine the Trump suit for each round dealt it is determined by the Dealer's face up card suit—i.e. the Dealer's face up card in a 10 of Diamonds then the Diamond suit is Trump for that hand. 10. In the case where a Player splits cards, the split hands do not qualify for the Pinochle Proposition bet.

V. Pay Table For Winning Bets

If a Player is dealt one of the card combinations listed below (first two cards only) then they would win the Pinochle Proposition side bet immediately with these payouts:

______:______ **Pinochle=Jack of Diamonds & Queen of Spades ______:______ **Trump Marriage=King & Queen/Suited/Trump ______:______ **Royal Marriage=King & Queen/Suited/Non Trump ______:______ **Common Marriage=King & Queen/Non Suited ______:______ **Dix in Trump=“9” Card in Trump

______:______ **payouts to be determined 

1. (canceled)
 2. (Canceled)
 3. A method for playing a card game using a deck of cards with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, the method comprising: distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer; receiving a main wager from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player; receiving a side wager from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player; determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match a defined combination of cards for winning the side wager; and rewarding the player for the side wager when the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards further comprises determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards match one of a plurality of defined combinations of cards, the plurality of defined combinations being fewer in number than a total number of possible card combinations.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the card game is played using playing cards and the plurality of defined combinations include at least the following card combinations: a Jack of diamonds card and a Queen of spades card; a King card and a Queen card of a same card suit; and a King card and a Queen card of different card suits.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising revealing one of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer and designating a suit of the one of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer as a trump suit, and wherein the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit card combination includes the following two card combinations: the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit, the same card suit of the King card and the Queen card matching the trump suit; and the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit, the same card suit of the King card and the Queen card being different from the trump suit.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the card combinations further include a combination of a ‘9’ card in the trump suit combined with any other card.
 8. The method of claim 5, further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager with one of a plurality of rewards selected based at least in part on which of the card combinations corresponds to the first two of the plurality of cards.
 9. The method of claim 3, wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager when the main wager is lost and the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.
 10. The method of claim 3, wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager when the main wager is won and the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.
 11. The method of claim 3, wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising withholding a reward to the player for the side wager regardless of whether the main wager is won or lost when the plurality of cards distributed to the player are different than the defined combination of cards.
 12. The method of claim 3, wherein the side wager is received when the main wager is received.
 13. The method of claim 3, wherein the side wager is received before distributing the plurality of cards distributed to the player.
 14. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of cards distributed to the player comprises at least three cards.
 15. The method of claim 3, wherein the player comprises a plurality of players.
 16. A method for playing a card game using representations of cards on a video terminal using a processor and a memory, with rules to define a value of the cards, comprising: virtually distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer on the video terminal; receiving a main wager from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player; receiving a side wager from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player; determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player on the video terminal match a defined combination of cards for the side wager; and rewarding the player for the side wager when the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein rewarding the player for the side wager is independent of rewarding the player for the main wager.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the defined combination of cards includes a plurality of combinations of cards fewer in number than a total number of potential card combinations and defined at least in part by a suit of the cards, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager based at least in part on which of the plurality of combinations of cards matches the first two of the plurality of cards.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager differently depending on a suit of a face up card of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer.
 20. A method for playing a card game using a deck of cards, with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, the method comprising the steps of: distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer; receiving a plurality of different wagers from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player, including a first wager for a total value of all of the plurality of cards distributed to the player and the dealer, and a second wager for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player; determining whether to reward the player for the first wager based at least in part on the total value of all of the plurality of cards distributed to the player and the dealer; and determining whether to reward the player for the second wager based at least in part on whether the first two of the plurality of cards correspond to one of a plurality of defined combination of cards; wherein determining whether to reward the player for the second wager is independent of determining whether to reward the player for the first wager, and wherein the reward for the side wager varies dependent upon a suit of a face up card of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising rewarding the player for the first and second wagers based on a result of the determining steps.
 22. The method of claim 20, further comprising withholding a reward for the second wager from the player when more than the first two of the plurality of cards are distributed to the player before the player announces a correspondence of the first two of the plurality of cards to the one of the plurality of defined combinations of cards. 